Applying for graduate school can be a daunting process from start to finish. You may be wondering: what does graduate school applications generally include? The following list will highlight some of the common expectations of a graduate school application so that you can begin making educated decisions about how to approach the application process

1. Application Fees

Applying to graduate school has many fees that can add up quickly. When applying, research if they have any information about fee waivers online. If you cannot find any information, email the admissions office of each institution to see if they offer application fee waivers.

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2. Application Deadlines

When you apply to graduate school depends on what semester you are applying for. For example, if you are applying for a fall semester, most schools have application deadlines of December. If you are applying for the Spring semester, your deadline will likely be in the early fall. Make sure to give yourself plenty of time to complete applications- in fact, many professionals would recommend giving yourself up to a year of time to complete tests, perfect resumes, send transcripts, obtain letters of recommendation, and more. Check here for an application timeline to help keep you on track.

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3. CV/Resume

Many graduate programs will require a resume along with your application. This resume should demonstrate your educational background, employment history, research and internship experience, volunteer opportunities, and other achievements pertaining to academia. The presentation of your resume is particularly important, and should look and sound professional. Check out this guide from GoGrad to create a resume that will stand out. 

The Muse also has an excellent resume section that tackles every question you might have about putting your accomplishments together on the page. 

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4. Transcripts

Prepare to send your transcripts!

All graduate school applications will require transcripts from your undergraduate program. Call the office of the registrar from your undergraduate institution to find out more. Some schools will allow you to request transcripts online, and others may require you to come in to fill out forms. It does generally cost to send transcripts so be prepared to pay about $10-$20 per transcript. 

5. Letters of Recommendation

Establish a strong application with great letters of recommendation. 

Most graduate school applications will require a letter of recommendation, and many require up to three. While these letters are not the most important piece of your application, they could be a deciding factor between yourself and someone with similar academic credentials. It’s important to ask for letters of recommendation from those who know you well and who can vouch for your academic performance. Some examples may be a professor or a supervisor at a related job or internship. Be prepared to set up an in-person appointment to request that this person write a letter of recommendation for you. 

Learn when to ask for letters of recommendation in this short clip:

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With how critical these letters of recommendation are, it is vitally important that you are considerate of those you’re asking for recommendations. You’ll need to ask respectfully and give your recommenders enough time to write a fantastic letter that helps to showcase who you are. You should ask for a letter of recommendation as soon as you know you’ll need one, and give your recommender all the information they will need so that they can sing your praises appropriately. To learn more about proper etiquette on how to ask for a recommendation, check out this article.

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6. Personal Statement/ Statement of Purpose

Make yourself stand out in your Personal Statement.

Often graduate school applications will require a Statement of Purpose from you. This is a chance for you to express your plans and goals as well as the reason why you think the selected graduate program could help you reach them. Check out this guide on how to write a Statement of Purpose. 

Your personal statement is also an excellent opportunity to work with your mentor. Having another set of eyes to look at your statement, whether that’s simply to check grammar or to help gauge whether your writing reflects you well, is invaluable. Your mentor should be able to assist you throughout the writing process, and you can even look at tips together to see how you can really make your personal essay stand out. 

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By preparing to approach graduate applications ahead of time, you can stay cognizant of what graduate programs require. This will help you to make the decisions necessary to apply to graduate school. For example, if you are an undergraduate student here are some things outlined you can do now!

• Look for opportunities to build relationships with professors especially in your desired field. 

• Stay on top of your grades!

• Look for opportunities to participate in your field of study or other extracurricular activities pertinent to your target post-graduate education. 

• Consider why you want to go to graduate school and what it means to you- in the past, present, and future. 

Being aware of the application process can help you to prepare to be a candidate for a graduate program and to decide what graduate school means for you.